Recently, I talked about Double Commander and recommended it as a solid option for managing files in Windows, but I also said that the built-in Explorer is sufficient in most cases. However, that tool has the curious habit of not properly recording all its configuration parameters. Fortunately, WinSetView allows us to customize File Explorer with global values, or limited to specific folders.
The good news is that File Explorer in Windows hasn't changed too much compared to other sections of the operating system. The bad news is that it still retains some of its quirks, one of which is that it's not very convenient to customize its appearance globally.
In relaxed terms, first you make the changes, then go to "Change folder and search options" ("Options" in Windows 11), access the "View" tab, and finally click "Apply to Folders". The alternative to all that is to use a dedicated application... and that's where WinSetView comes in.
WinSetView: A Tool to Customize File Explorer
Using WinSetView is much less complicated than it seems. If you only want to set a general configuration, the Global section has everything you need. By clicking on Columns you can see each available value, including the column width, and its availability in the details view or the context menu.
For example: Suppose you want to organize Explorer with a Details view, and a sort by Modification Date from newest to oldest. In the Global section we choose Details, then we go to Columns, there we select Modification Date along with its two checkboxes, and change the arrow orientation to down. To apply the changes, we return to the main menu and click Send. This will restart File Explorer and activate the new configuration.
Now, what if you want a special view only in other folders, like Pictures or Videos? The procedure is the same, with the only difference that we must uncheck the Inherit checkbox. That will enable an independent configuration for the selected folder. If you feel you've made a mistake, don't worry: At the top, WinSetView includes a command that restores Windows default values, and interface settings like dark mode and font change (Dark 2 + Tahoma 10 looks pretty good). If you use File Explorer on Windows, be sure to try WinSetView!
Official site and download: Click here
